Process of treating scrap-brass.



N0. 831,010. PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

H. J. KREBS. PROCESS OF TREATING SCRAP BRASS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.27,1906.

NITED STATES PATENT HENRY-J KREBS,'OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE. PFZOCESS OF TREATING SCRAP-BRASS.

of the co per in metallic form and the cong, means for cooling and recovering the fume.

version o the zinc, lead, and tin into salts.

In carrying out the process the scrap-brass or alloy is melted and subjected to the action of air, preferably in a cupola-furnace, thereby oxidizing the zinc and the lead and tin, if present. The oxids escape from the furnace as a fume and are dissolved in acid to produce salts of the metals.

A suitable apparatus for carrying out the process is shown in the accompanying draw ing, in which the figure is a vertical lon 'tudinal section of a cupola-furnace and o the The cupola-furnace 1 of any usual or preferred construction opens at its upper end into a chamber 2, having a charging door or doors 3. From this chamber an outlet 4 leads to a separating and cooling system comprising the cylinder 5 and the coolingseotions 6, havin connections alternately at their opposite en s. From the last section 6 a pipe 7 leads to the fan 8, which delivers to the conduit'9 and the bags 10. From the conduit 9 a pipe 11, controlled by a rockvalve 12, leads to the lower end of a tower 13, constructed-of or lined with acid-proof material and provided at its upper end with spray-pipes 14. The tower is filled with checker-work, quartz pebbles, or other deflecting means 15.

In employing this apparatus to produce a salt the scrap-brass is melted in the on ola, and the air-blast oxidizes the zinc an( the lead and tin, if present. The oxid fume rises and escapes with the products of combustion through the outlet 4 into the separator 5, wherein the cinders and coarser particles precipitate. The fume passes on through the cooling-sections 6 and is delivered by the fan through the conduit 9 and pipe 11 to the tower 13. A suitable acid solution is supplied to the pipes 14 and falls through the checker-work in the tower,

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

Original application filed December 6, 1905, Serial No. 290,412. Divided and this application filed March 27, 1906. Serial No. 308,354.

wherein it is met by the rising fume. The resulting zinc sulfate and other soluble salts may be drawn off through a valved outlet and the lead sulfate and other insoluble residues removed through an opening. (Not shown.)

In some cases it may be desirable to simultaneously recoverdifferent portions of the oxid fume as a pigment and in the form of an acid salt. This result may be effected by setting the valve 12 so as to deliver the desired percentages to the bags and the acid-tower.

While a cupola-furnace is preferably employed to both melt the brass and oxidize the zinc, the scra metal may be first melted in a cupola, rever eratory, or crucible furnace, and then transferred to a Bessemer converter to effect the oxidation, the converter being .metals in the alloy into an oxid fume, treating the fume with acid for the production of a salt or salts, and discharging the purified copper, as set forth.

2. The process of treating scrap-brass and similar copper alloys, which consists in melting the alloy, converting the easily-oxidizable metals in the alloy into an oxid fume, cooling the fume and treating it with acid for the production of a salt or salts, and discharging the purified copper, as set forth.

3. The process of treating scrap-brass and similar copper alloys, which consists in melting the alloy, converting the easily-oxidi'zable metals in the alloy into an oxid fume, separating the coarser particles from the fume, cooling the fume and treating it with acid for the production of a salt or salts, and discharging the purified copper, as set forth.

4. The process of treating scrap-brass, which consists in melting the brass in a cupolafurnace and oxidizing the zinc in the molten metal, discharging the oxidation products from the furnace, cooling them and treating them with acid for the production of a salt or salts, and discharging the purified copper from the furnace, as set forth.

5. The process of treating scrap-brass, which consists in melting the brass in a cu- In testimony whereof I, afiiii my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

HENRY JJKREBSQ- pole-furnace and oxidizing'the zinc in the molten metal, discharging the oxidation products from the furnace, separating the coarser articles and cooling the fume, treat- 5 ing the ume with acid for the production of -a salt, and discharging the purified copper y from the furnace, asjsetfforth.

Witnesses:

PEIROE GOULD, CHARLES F. Bow ERS. 

